The future of business for online retailers is viewed by such organisations in a "universally optimistic" way, according to an industry expert.

Editor of online sales publication Internet Retailing Don Davis said that in North America particularly, there seems to be no sense of panic, adding that he has interviewed countless retailers to find they are confident in their performance in both the short and long-term.

Many small businesses in IT are putting off major investments in the near future though many still have them factored into their overall business plan, he continued, noting that a large proportion are keeping a careful watch of developments in the economy.

Mr Davis continued: "I've also heard from several of them that sales seem to be picking up a bit this year after what was, for many, a pretty dismal fourth quarter of 2008 and there are some that are doing pretty well."

One major area of sales for online stores seems to be sport and fitness, according to comScore's recent retail e-commerce sales estimates, with many consumers willing to make major purchases in the sector on the internet.

According to a recent survey by Connect, the two biggest IT headaches for businesses were 'everyday hassles with IT' (37 per cent) and 'security concerns' (32 per cent).